Leaders of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria today, stormed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to remind President Goodluck Jonathan of the grave danger the nation is facing in the hands of Boko Haram, whose members they said, are fast taking over many Nigerian territories.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation which comprised, among others, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Cardinal John Oneiyakan and a dozen others, the group’s President, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama said: “we are here (in Presidential Villa) on behalf of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria not to wish the President a bad day but to talk about our nation. We have some concerns about the situation of security in the nation as well as political developments. “So, in general terms.
“We just wanted to remind him of things he already knows; there was nothing we said that was new. We just wanted to lay emphasis and we wanted him to know we are concerned.”
Bishop Ignatius, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the meeting of the Bishops with President Jonathan added: “we feel that things are not right. Territorially, our land is being taken away (by Boko Haram). The people we look after are being displaced. Their homes, their villages, towns are being captured and they are internally displaced. They are refugees in their own land.
“We thought this is not right. We have families that are just stranded.
We thought that the President should know.” The Bishops acknowledged that President Jonathan has been doing his bit and has assured Nigerians that he is on top of the situation but regrtted that the principal aim and concern of Boko Haram has always been to eliminate
Christianity and pave the way for total Islamisation of the country.
“The Boko Haram agenda is very clear: they want to destroy what is not, according
to them, authentic Islam and the Christians fall into that category and so we are the major target. Just like the government is a target, the Christians too are a major target. Other Nigerians are also targets, but we suffer more.
“For instance, the Bishop of Maidugiri will tell you how many of his parishes have all been destroyed. His minor seminary, his convent and clinics where sisters work, have all been destroyed. then the priests are on the run. Reverend sisters have all abandoned their homes. They
are all on the run.
“In Yola, you find that many people are distressed and displaced. When we admit that some muslims are also targeted, we want to believe that concern of Boko Haram is to eliminate Christianity and pave the way for total Islamisation of the country.”
He commended the relief measures for Boko Haram victims but questioned the effectiveness of the distribution of the materials.
The Bishops called on the government to involve them, adding: “as a Catholic, we have laid a good structure for relief and taking care of such situation. We want the government to collaborate with us. We have what we call the Catholic Peace and Justice Commission. We respond when there is an emergency. We know how to technically do registration of displaced people.
“The little funds we gather we buy clothings and materials and are able to reach out very effectively. You would almost say that scientifically, every victim gets something.
“We have many years of experience: as a Catholic church, we don’t discriminate. In fact, 90% of the people we give relief to are not Christians or even Catholics, so we should be brought on board.
“We should combine the skill of registering adequately displaced people and then know the right approach to give them relief so that they can feel the impact. What is being done now is not effective and that is the truth.” [myad]
